Air bearing turbo cooling air flow regulating device

Abstract

A cooling air flow regulating device for controlling the flow of cooling air to an air bearing may comprise a housing with a piston and a spring disposed within. When the pressure of the cooling air is high, the piston is forced out of the path of the cooling air and into an open position. As the pressure of the cooling air decreases, the spring forces the piston back into the path of the cooling air, effectively blocking the flow of cooling air to the air bearing. The cooling air flow regulating device of the present invention may be useful for controlling the cooling of air bearings in turbochargers of turbocharged engine, where at low engine speed, cooling air is not required for air bearings. Methods for using the cooling air flow regulating device of the present invention are also provided.

1 . A cooling air flow regulating device comprising: 
 a housing, wherein the housing comprises an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet and air outlet form a cooling air passage for holding the cooling air flow having an air pressure therein;    a piston, the piston being disposed in the housing and wherein the piston is movable between a first position blocking the cooling air passage and a second position outside of the cooling air passage; and    an actuating device, the actuating device being capable of moving the piston between the first position and the second position, wherein the actuating device is responsive to the air pressure of the cooling air flow passage.    
   
   
       2 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 1  further comprising a seal, the seal being circumferentially disposed around the piston.  
   
   
       3 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 2  wherein the seal is an o-ring.  
   
   
       4 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 2  wherein the seal is a diaphragm.  
   
   
       5 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 1  wherein the actuating device is a spring.  
   
   
       6 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 5  wherein the spring is a coil, leaf or bevel spring.  
   
   
       7 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 1  wherein the air inlet is in fluid communication with an air charge cooler.  
   
   
       8 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 1  wherein the air outlet is in fluid communication with an air bearing.  
   
   
       9 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 1  wherein the cooling air flow regulating device has an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       10 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 9  wherein the closed position comprises the piston being disposed in the cooling air passage between the cooling air inlet and the cooling air outlet.  
   
   
       11 . A cooling air flow regulating device comprising: 
 a housing, wherein the housing comprises a vent, an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet and air outlet form a cooling air passage for holding the cooling air flow having an air pressure therein;    a piston, the piston being disposed between the cooling air passage and the vent;    a seal, the seal disposed between the cooling air passage and the vent;    a spring, the spring being disposed between the piston and the vent in the housing; and    wherein the cooling air flow regulating device has an open position and a closed position responsive to the air pressure of the cooling air flow.    
   
   
       12 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 11  wherein the closed position comprises the piston being disposed in the cooling air passage between the cooling air inlet and the cooling air outlet.  
   
   
       13 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 11  wherein the seal comprises an o-ring or a diaphragm.  
   
   
       14 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 11  wherein the seal comprises high temperature reinforced rubber or silicon.  
   
   
       15 . A cooling air flow regulating device comprising: 
 a housing, wherein the housing comprises a vent, an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet and air outlet form a cooling air passage for holding the cooling air flow having an air pressure therein;    a piston, the piston being disposed between the cooling air passage and the vent, wherein the piston can move between the vent and the air cooling passage;    a diaphragm, the diaphragm being disposed between the cooling air passage and the vent;    a spring, the spring being disposed between the piston and the vent in the casing;    wherein the cooling air flow regulating device has an open position and a closed position, the open position comprising the piston disposed toward the vent and the closed position comprising the piston disposed in between the air inlet and the air outlet, and    wherein the air pressure of the cooling air flow determines whether the cooling air flow regulating device is in the open position or the closed position.    
   
   
       16 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 15  wherein the cooling air flow regulating device is part of a turbocharger.  
   
   
       17 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 15  wherein the diaphragm comprises high temperature reinforced rubber or silicon.  
   
   
       18 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 15  wherein the cooling air inlet is in fluid communication with an air charge cooler and the cooling air outlet is in fluid communication with an air bearing.  
   
   
       19 . The cooling air flow regulating device of  claim 15  wherein the cooling air flow regulating device is part of an electric-driven turbocompressor.  
   
   
       20 . A turbocharger comprising: 
 a turbine;    a boost compressor;    a shaft, the shaft connecting the turbine and the boost compressor;    an air bearing, the air bearing contacting the shaft;    a cooling air flow regulating device, the cooling air flow regulating device being in fluid communication with the air bearing and wherein the cooling air flow regulating device comprises a housing, wherein the housing comprises an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet and air outlet form a cooling air passage for holding the cooling air flow having an air pressure therein, a piston, the piston being disposed in the housing, wherein the piston is movable between a first position blocking the cooling air passage and a second position outside of the cooling air passage and an actuating device, the actuating device being capable of moving the piston between the first position and the second position, wherein the actuating device is responsive to the air pressure of the cooling air flow.    
   
   
       21 . The turbocharger of  claim 20  wherein the cooling air flow regulating device has an open position, wherein the open position allows cooling air to flow to the air bearing and a closed position, wherein the closed position blocks the flow of cooling air to the air bearing.  
   
   
       22 . The turbocharger of  claim 20  wherein the turbocharger is part of a turbocharged engine.  
   
   
       23 . The turbocharger of  claim 20  wherein the turbocharger is part of an air cycle machine.  
   
   
       24 . A turbocharged engine comprising: 
 an engine;    a turbocharger, the turbocharger in fluid communication with the engine, wherein the turbocharger comprises an air bearing and a cooling air flow regulating device, wherein the cooling air flow regulating device is in fluid communication with the air bearing;    an air charge cooler, the air charge cooler being in fluid communication with the cooling air flow regulating device; and    wherein the cooling air flow regulating device comprises a housing, the housing comprising a vent, an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet and air outlet form a cooling air passage for holding the cooling air flow having an air pressure therein, a piston, the piston being disposed between the cooling air passage and the vent, a seal, the seal disposed between the cooling air passage and the vent, a spring, the spring being disposed between the piston and the vent in the casing, and wherein the cooling air flow regulating device has an open position and a closed position responsive to the air pressure of the cooling air flow.    
   
   
       25 . The turbocharged engine of  claim 24  wherein the turbocharged engine is a jet engine.  
   
   
       26 . The turbocharged engine of  claim 24  wherein the turbocharged engine is part of a land vehicle.  
   
   
       27 . A method of cooling an air bearing comprising the steps of: 
 providing air bearing cooling air, the air bearing cooling air comprising a pressure P 1 ;    flowing the air bearing cooling air through a cooling air passage into a cooling air flow regulating device, the cooling air flow regulating device comprising a piston and wherein the piston is in a closed position, blocking the flow of air bearing cooling air through the cooling air flow regulating device;    increasing the pressure of the air bearing cooling air to P 2 ;    forcing the piston to move away from the cooling air passage by the increased pressure P 2 , allowing the air bearing cooling air to flow through the cooling air flow regulating device to the air bearing; and    cooling the air bearing.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the air bearing is part of a turbocharger, the turbocharger being a part of a turbocharged engine.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the cooling air pressure is increased by increasing engine speed of the turbocharged engine.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the engine speed is increased to at least about 40% of maximum operational engine speed to provide pressure P 2 .  
   
   
       31 . A method for shutting off the flow of cooling air to an air bearing comprising the steps of: 
 flowing air bearing cooling air having a pressure P 2  through a cooling air passage and a cooling air flow regulating device to the air bearing, the cooling air flow regulating device being disposed in the cooling air passage and wherein the cooling air flow regulating device comprises a piston;    decreasing the air bearing cooling air pressure to a pressure P 1 ; and    moving the piston to block the cooling air passage, wherein air bearing cooling air is prevented from flowing through the cooling air flow regulating device.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the cooling air flow regulating device is part of a turbocharged engine and the cooling air pressure is decreased by decreasing engine speed of the turbocharged engine.